US3440640A

US3440640A - Slow rate pulse counters

Info

Publication number: US3440640A
Application number: US485391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Droniou; Francis Consolin
Original assignee: CSF Compagnie Generale de Telegraphie sans Fil SA
Current assignee: Thales SA
Priority date: 1964-09-23
Filing date: 1965-09-07
Publication date: 1969-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-22
Also published as: CH468665A; CH1746365A4; NL6512210A; CH439393A; DE1499453A1; FR1427696A

Description

April 22,1969 D. DRONIOU ETAL sL w RATE PULSE COUNTERS Filed Sept. '7, 1965 42I 29l35f 43131/ 39/ 19/ 1e! 17 16f 15! Q. W .1 Y mm M o fiVR Ta 0 3%" vm A M April 22,1969 D. DRONIOU ETAL SLOW RATE PULSE COUNTERS Sheet Filed Sept. 7, 1965 INVENTORS.

D. DRO/V/OU 4 F-CO/VSOLM/ Sheet Filed Sept. 7, 1965 wbt | N VENTORS.

o. BRO/W00 & F-coflsamv BY ATTOR Y A ril 22, 1969 D. DRONIOU ETAL 3,440,540

SLOW RATE PULSE COUNTERS Filed Sept. 7, 1965 Sheet 4 of 5 Fig.9

IN V E NTORS.

D. DRUN/OU F C OMSOU/V ATTORN A ril 22,1969 D, bRONIOU ETAL 3,440,640

SLOW RATE PULSE COUNTERS Filed Sept. 7, 1965 Sheet 5 of 5 INVENTORS.

D. DRO/V/OU FCOMSOLM/ United States Patent US. Cl. 340-325 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Pulse counter having a slow rate uses indicator tubes and comprises the combination of an electromagnetic motor and a guasi-universal printed circuit. The counter is capable of being adapted to varied applications by very slight modifications, for instance: decimal counters, remote controlled switches, clocks.

The present invention relates to pulse counters having a relatively slow rate, that is for instance capable of attaining up to 100 counts per second.

In this domain, mechanical devices are known in which numerals are displayed on wheels driven mechanically or electrically from the source of the pulses to be counted.

These devices have as an inconvenience the smallness of the numerals displayed and the difiiculty to read these numerals; moreover, in the known realizations, the devices are constituted by a great number of metal pieces and consequently they are relatively complicated and noisy.

The problem of the smallness of the numerals is solved by using indicator tubes, that is tubes comprising an anode and a plurality of cold cathodes in the form of the numerals to be displayed where the numerals become luminous upon application of a voltage between the anode and the selected cathode, the switching of the difierent cathodes being effected by a suitable device.

Pulse counters have already been made with indicator tubes and switching devices including electronic components, such as transistorized assemblies. These counters, intend chiefly to count fast pulses, can of course be used also for counting slow rate pulses, as defined above, but in that application they become too expensive in comparison with the mechanical counters.

This invention has as its object to provide an indicator tube counter that is simple, relatively inexpensive and sufficiently versatile for being readily adapted to various applications that comprise counting pulses at a relatively slow rate.

Among these applications, one may mention clocks, automatic drive devices for production chains, telecontrolled switching, etc.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the combination of an electromagnetic motor driving a very simple counting device, made preferably from plastic material, which actuates a simple rotating brush having at least two arms that slide on a series of contact studs or areas distributed over a circular track traced on a quasi-universal printed circuit, a portion of the studs being assigned to connect at least a portion of the cathodes of an indicatortube.

Another object of the present invention is a printed circuit for the above combination, this circuit being quasiuniversal, that is capable of being adapted to each particular application by very slight modifications of its essential constitution while conserving its external contour and the general disposition.

This printed circuit is characterized by the fact that it comprises, in principle, a circular track on which are distributed:

A series of contact studs assigned for connections with at least a portion of the cathodes of an indicator tube;

At least one transfer stud intended to transmit control pulses onto another printed circuit;

A series of studs intended to cause the self-rotation of the brush;

A series of stu-ds (or a metallic area extending at the location of these studs) connected to ground in common with the different aforementioned functions.

The present invention also encompasses the printed circuits that are modified with respect to the aforementioned one by removing a certain series of studs in the case where, for a given application, there is no need of the corresponding function.

The invention will be more clearly understood when considering the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a view of a typical printed circuit used in the counters according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the brush sliding on the typical circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the brush of FIG. 2 with the ratchet wheel that carries the brush;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the blade that drives the rachet wheel;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the motor coil of the device;

FIG. 6 schematically shows the assembly of the elements of the preceding figure, which assembly is located in a box, shown in cross section;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a counter having several decades, made with the elements described;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a clock made with the elements described above or directly derived therefrom;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a preselection counter made with the elements described above or directly derived therefrom; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an application of the counter of FIG. 10 to the telecontrol of a switch.

FIG. 1 represents a view of the general consitution of a printed circuit in accordance with the invention. On an insulating board 50, there is disposed, by photo-engraving or any other suitable process, a series of metallic contact studs or areas, distributed over a circle. In the first quadrant there are ten studs numbered 0 to 9, intended for connections with the indicator tube cathodes that represent the corresponding numbers. The cathode connections are soldered to the printed circuit at point 151 and anal ogous points. The printed connections are extended to the output lugs 10 to 19, allowing an optional doubling of the display. In the second quadrant there are 9 studs, designated by reference numerals 20 to 28, which are interconnected therebetween and connected to the output lug 29. These studs are intended for the function of autoor selfrotation. Following stud 9, the circle is occupied by the ground area 30 which is connected to the output lug 31, intended for connection to ground. Between the different aforementioned studs (which will be referred to as rest studs), or between an extreme stud and the ground area, there are disposed intermediate studs such as 32, which will be referred to as work studs. These work studs are generally inactive, that is they are not connected to any electrical circuit, and they serve only to protect the insulating board 50 against the friction of the brush which would otherwise impair the insulation because of the sparks. However, only one of the work studs,

namely stud 33 located at 180 with respect to the work stud 34 that follows the rest stud 9 and precedes the ground area 30, is connected through a printed connection to the output lug 35 and is intended to function as a decade transfer stud, for purposes of transferring a pulse onto another analogous printed circuit. This work stud 33 is located between two inactive studs 36, 37 that separate this work stud, on the one hand from the rest stud 20, and on the other, from the ground area 30.

On the board are additionally disposed:

A connection for the indicator tube anode whose wire is soldered to point 38, this connection having an output at the lug 39 to be connected to the tube supply source;

Two areas, 40 and 41, intended to receive the contact of the elastic blades that form the output terminals of the motor coil of the device, these two areas having their output terminals at the

lugs

42, 43, one of which is intended for the connection with the supply source of the coil and the other for receiving the control pulses, effected by intermittent grounding of the wire connected to this lug.

In the center of the circular track a hole 44 is provided for the passage of the shaft of the ratchet wheel, to be described more fully hereinafter, which carries the brush, the arms of this brush sliding on the different studs or areas described above.

The brush 45, which is shown in FIG. 2, comprises four

arms

46, 47, 48, 49, mutually shifted by 90. This brush 45 is elastic and is made either from metal or plastic material, and the side thereof facing the board 50, is metallized. The brush 45 is carried by the ratchet wheel 51 preferably also made from plastic material, which is shown in FIG. 3, representing a transverse cross section of the board 50. FIG. 4 represents the details of the driving mechanism of the wheel 51. The drive is effected by a paddle 52, made preferably from thermoplastic material having a high elasticity modulus. The paddle is provided with a return spring 53 and two

elastic tongue pieces

54 and 55 that engage between the teeth of the ratchet wheel 51. Supported by the paddle is an armature of soft iron 56, intended to be attracted by the magnetic core of the coil 57, represented in dash lines. The paddle 52 comprises a shaft 58 which is mobile in a bearing fixed to the housing of the device.

This mechanism operates as follows:

When the coil 57 is energized, the armature 56 is attracted thereto, and the paddle 52 slopes downward, turning on the shaft 58 in the clockwise direction. The tongue piece 55 then pushes or rotates the wheel 51 which advances by one step in the direction of the arrow. At this moment the arms of the brush 45 pass from a rest stud to a work stud of the printed circuit 50. Upon de-energization of the coil 57, the armature 56 is released and the paddle comes back to the upper position under the action of the return spring 53. The paddle 54 then pushes the wheel 51 in the same direction as previously, and the arms of the brush 45 pass from a work stud to the following rest stud. The advancing of the wheel 51 is consequently effected in two stages, the first at the receipt of the pulse and the second upon cessation of the pulse. In order to reduce the overall dimensions, the shaft 58 is placed laterally and the system of the

tongue pieces

54, 55 operates with a double dissymmetrical release, the tongue piece 55 being at the extremity of a longer lever-arm than the tongue piece 54. The first stage of advancing thus corresponds to a greater angle than the second one.

FIG. represents a side view of the coil 57 whose output terminals are arranged On two

elastic sheets

59 and 59 applied by pressure, as already stated, against the

areas

40 and 41 on the board 50.

FIG. 6 schematically represents the disposition of the described elements within a box 60 shown in section. FIGURE 6 illustrates the board 50, the ratchet wheel 4 51, the paddle 52 with the armature 56, and the coil 57. Also the position of the indicator tube 61 is shown. The box 60 is realized in such a manner that the different elements are fixed in their correct positions while the necessary pressure is exerted on the coil 57 against the board 50. The wall opposite the board 50 supports the shaft bearings of the paddle 52 and the ratchet wheel 51.

FIG. 7 represents in perspective the obtained assembly, which forms an interchangeable unit or module. Placing such modules side by side and connecting them mechanically and electrically by suitable connections between the lugs of the boards 50 permits to achieve any desired multi-digit counter of which a few application examples will now be described.

The operation of the device will be best described by reference to the example of application to the decimal counter, represented schematically in FIG. 8.

This counter is supposed to be limited to three decimal digits, and for its realization three modules such as that of FIG. 7 are utilized. These modules are schematically represented in FIG. 8 by their printed

circuits

50, 50', 50" intended for counting units, tens and hundreds, respectively, and interconnected as shown. These circuits are identical to that of FIG. 1 to which reference should be made for more details. The indicator tube 61 is connected, in each module, to the studs 0 to 9 and 38. The terminals 39 are connected to one pole -}-B of the power supply source of the tubes, the other pole of this source being connected to ground. The terminals 31 are connected to ground. The terminals 42 are connected to one pole +A of the power supply source of the coils 57, the other pole of this source being connected to ground. The terminal 35 of the module of units 50 is connected to the terminal 43 of the module of tens 50', and likewise the terminal 35 0f the latter is connected to the terminal 43 of the module of hundreds 50". The terminals 29 of all the modules, interconnected with each other, join the common stud of a button-controlled threepole switch 62, whose output studs are connected separately to the terminals 43 of the respective modules. The terminal 43 of the module of units 50 is connected to a pulse source, represented symbolically by a ground break switch 63, controlled by a cam wheel 64 in such a way that the terminal 43 of the module 50 is intermittently grounded.

This device operates as follows:

During each pulse transmitted by the switch 63-, the coil 57 of the module 50 is energized by the circuit 42- 40-57-41-43, and the arm advances by one step passing from one rest stud to another. The circuit of the indicator tube is consequently closed by one of the studs 0 to 9, the

arms

46 and 48 or49, the area 30 and the ground terminal 31. The successive numerals are indicated by the tube 61. During the pulse that follows the display of the number 9, the arm 48 leaves the ground area 30 and passes during the first stage onto the work stud 33. But the arm 49 remains on the area 30 so that the ground is connected to the terminal 43 of the module 50' through the terminal 31 of module 50, the area 30, the

arms

49 and 48, the stud 33 of the terminal 35 of the same module. The module 50', which functions as a decade of tens, consequently begins to operates like the module 50 under the incidence of pulses. Upon cessation of the pulse that follows the display of the number 9, the arm 48 leaves the stud 33, thus indicating the end of the pulse transmitted onto the module 50' where one of the brush arms then settles on one of the rest studs 0 to 9. At the same time, the arm 47 of the module 50 settles on the stud 0, this figure being then displayed by the tube. At each quarter of a turn of the ratchet wheel there is a cyclical permutation between the functions of the

different arms

46, 47, 48, 49, that is 40 pulses are counted during one turn of the wheel.

The same mechanism of decade transfer functions with regard to the module 50 that advances by one step during each tenth pulse received by the module 50'. The module 50" consequently counts the hundreds of pulses. By extension, it will obviously be possible to provide any desired number of modules for the higher decimal digits.

Resetting the counter to zero is effected by the use of the self-rotation studs 20 to 28. Indeed, when a module displays a numeral other than 0, the arm 47 rests on one of the studs 20 to 28 which are consequently grounded through the

arms

47 and 48 or 49, the area 30 and the terminal 31. Pushing then the button 62 connects the ground to the terminals 43 of all the modules through the terminals 29 and the contacts of the switch 62. The brushes of all the modules which are not at zero start advancing and owing to the two-stage advancing mechanism described above the ground circuit is alternately switched on and off so that while the button 62 is depressed, the coils 57 receive a series of pulses which cause the corresponding brushes to advance until the arm 47 settles on the stud causing the display of the corresponding numeral. At that moment the arm 48 settles on an inactive stud ahead of the stud 20 so that the circuit of the self-rotation studs 20 to 28 is cut off and the device stops at zero.

FIG. 9 represents a second example of application of the invention, namely to making clocks. Supposing that one wants to make a clock limited to the indication of minutes, use will be made of four modules whose printed

circuits

65, 66, 67, 68 will be in their general form of the type of FIG. 1 with certain minor modifications dictated by the adaptation to the contemplated application. Thus the circuit 65 will work as a decade like the

circuits

50, 50', 50" of the counter, but the self-rotation studs 20 to 28 have been removed therefrom since there is no need of resetting to zero in clocks. The place of these studs is occupied by an extension of the ground area 30, and the transfer stud 33 has been advanced by 90 with respect to the circuit 50, that is it has been placed directly in front of the stud 0.

The circuit 66, intended to count the tens of minutes, has been additionally modified with respect to the circuit 65 in that the studs 0 to are the only ones connected to the corresponding cathodes of the indicator tube, while the

studs

6, 7, 8, 9 are interconnected with each other and directly connected by a printed connection to the area 41. This circuit is consequently a truncated decade in which the studs not utilized for the display will have the function of automatic self-rotation.

The circuit 67 has undergone additional modifications with respect to the circuit 65. The ground area 30 has been cut into three sectors 69, 70, 71. Between the sectors 69 and 70, at 90 with respect to the

studs

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, is inserted a series of six interconnected plots or terminals 74 to 79, connected by a printed connection to an output lug 72. Between the sectors 70 and 71, at 180 with respect to the work stud located between the studs 3 and -4, is inserted a second transfer stud 73.

Finally, the circuit 68 is modified as follows:

The cathode 0 of the indicator tube is connected to a small area 80 that occupies the position of the

studs

0 and 1. The cathode 1 is connected to another small area 81 occupying the position of the

studs

2 and 3. The cathode 2 is connected to the stud 4. The stud 5 is left unconnected. The

studs

6, 7, 8 and 9 are interconnected with each other and connected by a printed connection directly to the area 41. The ground area 30 has been cut into four sectors 82, 83, '84, 85. A transfer stud '86 is inserted between the

sectors

83 and 84 at 180 with respect to the work stud located between the

studs

4 and 5. A second transfer stud '87 is inserted at 90 with respect to the stud '86 between the sectors 82 and 83. An empty work stud, at 180 with respect to the stud 8 7, is left between the

sectors

84 and 85. The

studs

86 and 87 are connected to the terminal lugs 88 and 89, respectively. The lug 88 is connected to the lug 43 of the module 67, and the lug 89 is connected to the lug 72 of the module 67. The other connections leading to ground and to the supply sources +A and +B are the same as in FIG. 8. Moreover, an optional direct connection between the stud 43 on each module and the ground is established through the buttons which are intended for resetting the clock.

This clock works as follows:

The module 65, working as a counter of minute units, is controlled once in a minute by a pulse supplied by the device 64 which symbolizes any mechanical or electrical clock mechanism. It functions like a decade which has been described in detail in connection with FIG. 8 so that these explanations need not be repeated. The tube of this module displays cyclically the numerals 0 to 9.

At each 10th minute, the passage of an

arm

46 or 47, or 48, or 49 onto the stud 33 releases a pulse on the terminal '43 of the module 66 which functions as a counter of tens of minutes. These tens are counted like in the ordinary decade until the number 5 is displayed by the tube, but thereafter, during the following pulse, the arm 46 passes onto the self-rotation stud 6, and the device starts advancing automatically by the same mechanism that has been explained in connection with resetting to zero the decades of FIG. 8 through the studs 20 to 28. After four steps forwards, the arm 47 reaches the stud 0, and the indicator tube consequently passes fro-m 5 to 0. Previously, the passage of the arm 47 onto the stud 33 releases a pulse on the terminal 43 of the module 67 which functions as a counter of hour units.

For counting the hours from 0 to 20, this module functions as an ordinary complete decade such as the module 65, except that the transfer pulse is transmitted onto the module 68 not only at the passage of the numeral 9 to the numeral 0 through the stud 33, but also at each passage of the numeral 3 to the numeral 4 through the stud 73. 'During the display of the numerals 4 to 9, one arm of the brush passes on the studs 74 to 79, but without incidence on the functioning of the module because these studs are connected through the terminals 72 to 89 to the stud 87 of the module 68, which stud 87 is connected to nothing during that period (from 0 to 20 hours).

After 20 hours the behavior changes but in order to understand the reason thereof, it is necessary first to describe the operation of the module 68 which functions as a counter of tens of hours.

From 0 hour to 9 hr. 59 min., one arm of the brush, for example 46, is located on the area 80, and the tube of the module 68 displays 0. The pulse received at the passage from 3 to 4 hr. by the stud 73 of the module 67 causes the module 68 to advance, but the same arm then remains always on the same area 80, because this area covers two studs. At the passage from 9 hr. 59 min. to 10 hr., the pulse received by the stud 33 of the module 67 causes the arm 46 to pass onto the area 81, and the tube displays the numeral 1. This numeral is maintained from 10 hr. to 19 hr. 59 min. because the pulse received at the passage from 13 to 14 hr. through the stud 73 causes the arm to advance only by one step without leaving the area 81. At the passage from 19 hr. 59 min. to 20' hr. the arm passes onto the stud 4 and the tube indicates the numeral 2, which is maintained from 20 hr. to 23 hr. 59 min. At the following pulse, received by the stud 73, the arm 46 passes onto the stud 5, the arm 49 onto the stud 87, the arm 48 onto the stud 86, and the arm 47 settles in the interval between the

sectors

84 and 85. The following operation follows therefrom:

(1) In the module 67 which has normally advanced from 20 to 23 hr., while successively displaying the numbers 0, l, 2, 3, the following pulse causes the arm 49 to pass onto the stud 74 which is at that moment connected to the terminal 43 of the same module 67 through the terminals 72 and 89, stud 87, arm 49 of the module 68, arm 48 of the same module, stud 86, terminal 88. The studs 74 to 79 function consequently by self-rotation through the mechanism that has been described previously, and the module 67 effects six steps forward until the arm 47 comes onto the stud causing the display of the corresponding numeral.

(2) Previously, the module 67 transmits through the stud 33 to the module 68 a pulse that causes the arm 46 to pass onto the stud 6, and the

arms

47, 48, 49 onto the

ground sectors

85, 84, 83. The studs 6 to 9 function by self-rotation until, after 4 steps forward, the arm 47 comes onto the stud 0, causing the display of the corresponding tube.

Thus the return to zero has been realized for all the modules after 23 hr. 59 min.

If one wants to reset the clock, for example after an interruption of the supply of the electrical masterpendulum, use is made of the buttons 90 by actuating them by pulses. Each pulse feeds individually the motor coil of the concerned module and causes it to advance by one step until the desired numeral is displayed.

A third example of application of the invention is concerned with a preselection counter, that is a counter on which a desired numeral is displayed and the counter is allowed to count the pulses. When the number of the counted pulses corresponds to the desired number, the mechanism actuates a predetermined device. This system may be employed in automated production chains, for example to package a given product in fixed quantities, etc.

For this application, use will be made of one or more modules whose printed circuit is represented in FIG. 10. This circuit differs from the fundamental circuit of FIG. 1 in the following points:

(1) The order of the cathode connections 1 to 9 of the indicator tube is inverted;

(2) The studs 20 to 28 are not connected with each other and connected to the lugs designated by reference numerals 92 to 100;

(3) The stud 37 is also connected to a lug 101 alongside the lugs 92 to 100;

(4) The ground area 30 is reduced to a sector occupying a quadrant facing the studs connected to the indicator tube cathodes;

(5) The transfer stud 33 is placed at 180 with respect to the work stud located between the

studs

0 and 9; its previous place in FIG. 1 is occupied by an extension of the ground area 30;

(6) An area 102, not grounded and connected to the lug 103 is disposed on a sector between the stud 33 and the stud connected to cathode 1 of the indicator tube 61.

This printed circuit is connected outside to the pushbutton board 104 which is connected on the one hand to the lugs 92 to 101 and on the other to the lug 43, itself connected to the motor coil on the area 41. If no button is pushed in, the keyboard 104 establishes an interconnection between the different studs 37 and to 28. If a desired button is pushed in, the interconnection is removed on the corresponding stud which becomes isolated, while all the other studs remain interconnected and joined together to the lug 43.

On the other hand, the lug 103 is connected to the coil of the relay 105 which controls the servo-mechanism, this relay operating by absence of voltage. Reference numeral 106 designates other connections going to the same relay and coming from other optional modules of the preselection counter.

This device operates as follows:

If a desired push-button, for instance 4, is pushed in on the keyboard 104, and supposing that the counter starts at zero (arm 46 on the stud 0), then the arm 47 is placed on the stud 37 and the arm 48 on the ground area 30. The arm 49 remains on the area 102 so that the ground is applied to the relay 105 through the

arms

48 and 49, the area 102 and the terminal 103. The relay 105 remains consequently stuck or energized. The ground is also applied to the area 41 through the

arms

48 and 47, the stud 37, the push-button 0 of the keyboard 104, the pushed-in button 4 of the same keyboard, and the terminal 43. The

mechanism advances, and the arm 47 overruns the selfrotation studs 20 to 28, producing pulses to feed the motor coil. When the arm 47 arrives onto the stud 25, connected to the stud 4 of the keyboard 104, the stud 25 is found empty, and the device stops while the number 4 is displayed on the tube 61.

Now, if pulses are transmitted through the switch 64 onto the terminal 43, the device continues advancing stepby-step. After four pulses, the arm 46 leaves the stud 1 while the arm 49 leaves the area 102 and settles on the stud 33. The area 102 thus becomes momentarily disconnected, whereby a pulse of voltage absence is released onto the stud 103 and relay 105 which functions, when deenergized, to operate a servo-mechanism.

In the case when optionally several modules are utilized, each of them is connected to a keyboard 104 and undergoes the desired programming.

The passage from 0 to 9 of the module of units by release of a count pulse causes, through its stud 33, the release of a decade transfer onto the module of the higher decade.

When the whole of the counter assembly has received the selected number of pulses, all the modules have returned to zero and none of the connections 106 apply the ground onto the relay 105 which de-energizes. Pushing in again the keyboards 104 causes a new programming which brings back into service the relay 105.

The same circuit 91 may be used for the telecontrol of switches. To this effect it sufiices to associate it with another module comprising a printed circuit 107, derived from module 91 and simplified by suppression of the

elements

30, 33, 102. There remain then only the studs 0 to 9, connected to the lugs 10 to 19, and the

studs

37 and 20 to 28, connected to the

lugs

101 and 92 to 100. In each position of the brush, a pair of arms thereof interconnects a given pair of studs, thus providing a IO-way switch. The terminals 43 of the

circuits

91 and 107 are interconnected so that their motor coils are put in parallel. Then, pushing in a selected push-button on the keyboard 104 causes not only the advancing of the mechanism of the module 91 up to the selected position, but also, at the same time, the synchronous advancing of the mechanism of the module 107. When the module 91 becomes immobilized in the position corresponding, for example, to the display of the number 4, the module 107 becomes immobilized in such a position that the

studs

4 and 25 are interconnected through the arm of the brush; this circuit may be designated conventionally by the number 4. Pushing in another push-button of the keyboard 104 (the push-button 4 then coming back to rest) produces a corresponding move of the module 107 and, consequently, a switch to another circuit.

We claim:

1. A module for use in slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

a board carrying along a substantially circular track thereof a series of metallic studs, electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center of said track,

brush means having at least two arms supported on said shaft and operatively associated with said studs to slide thereupon during rotation of said shaft, thereby establishing connections between various studs,

and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode electrode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected torespective predetermined studs in said series,

said series of studs including a number of studs intended for connection to the anode and the cathode means of said indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module and means including a number of studs operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means to control the self-rotation of said shaft, and a number of studs being connected to a common ground.

2. A module for use in slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode electrode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected to respective predetermined studs in said series,

and means for applying periodic control pulses to said module, push-button means connected to a number of said studs and operative to select a predetermined numeral, and connecting means between the motor means and some of said studs and operative to stop said motor means after counting a number of pulses equal to said predetermined numeral.

3. A remote-controlled switch including module operable as slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

a board carrying along a circular track thereof a series of metallic studs, electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center of said track,

and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode electrode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected to predetermined studs in said series,

said series of studs including a number of studs intended for connection to the anode and the cathodes of said indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module, a number of studs being operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means, thereby controlling the self-rotation of said shaft, and a number of studs connected to a common ground,

push-button means connected to a number of said studs and operative to advance said brush means by a predetermined number of steps by selection of a predetermined numeral,

and a multi-way switch means having motor means operatively connected in parallel with said first-mentioned motor means to advance said switch means in substantial synchronism with said brush means.

4. A remote-controlled switch including module operable as slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode electrode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a 10 plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected to predetermined studs in said series,

said series of studs including a number of studs in tended for connection to the anode and the cathodes of said indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module, a number of studs being operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means, thereby controlling the self-rotation of said shaft, and a number of studs connected to a common ground,

and a multi-way switch means having motor means operatively connected in parallel with said first-mentioned motor means to advance said switch means in substantial synchronism with said brush means, said switch means including a board carrying along a circular track thereof a number of metallic studs connected to predetermined circuits, electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center thereof, and means including brush means having at least two arms supported on said last-mentioned shaft and simultaneously contacting a pair of said last-mentioned studs to thereby establish an interconnection between a pair of said predetermined circuits in such a manner that a rotation of said last-mentioned shaft causes said last-mentioned arms to slide upon different studs to switch from one pair of circuits to another.

5. A module for use in slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

said series of studs including a number of studs intended for connection to the anode and the cathode means of said indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module and means including a number of studs operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means to control the self-rotation of said shaft, and a number of studs being connected to a common ground,

said motor means including means for causing said brush means to effect a first step when energized, and means for causing said brush means to effect a second step in the same direction when de-energized.

6. A decimal counter comprising a plurality of modules, each module including a board carrying along a circular track thereof a series of metallic studs, electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center of said track, brush means having at least two arms supported on said shaft and operatively associated with said studs to slide thereupon during rotation of said shaft, thereby establishing connections between various studs, and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode electrode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected to respective predetermined studs in said series, said series of studs including a number of studs intended for connection to the anode and the cathode means of a respective indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module, and means including a number of studs operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means to control the selfrotation of said shaft, and a number of studs being connected to a common ground,

and connecting means operatively interconnecting said modules to indicate successive decimal digits by corresponding indicator tubes.

7. A clock comprising a plurality of modules, each module including a board carrying along a circular track thereof a series of metallic studs, electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center of said track, brush means having at least two arms supported on said shaft and operatively associated with said studs to slide thereupon during rotation of said shaft, thereby establishing connections between various studs, and an indicator tube having two types of electrodes forming anode and cathode means and including at least one electrode of one type and a plurality of electrodes of the other type, said anode and cathode means being connected to respective predetermined studs in said series, said series of studs including a number of studs intended for connection to the anode and the cathode means of a respective indicator tube, at least one stud being operative to send a control pulse to another module and means including a number of studs operative as means for automatically energizing said motor means to control the self-rotation of said shaft, and a number of studs being connected to a common ground,

and connecting means operatively interconnecting said modules to indicate hours and subdivisions thereof by corresponding indicator tubes, and means for applying periodic control pulses to the module corresponding to the lowest subdivision thereof.

8. A module for use in slow rate pulse counters, comprising:

a board carrying along a substantially circular track thereof a series of metallic studs,

electromagnetic motor means having a shaft traversing said board substantially at the center of said track,

said motor means including means for causing said brush means to effect a first step when energized, and means for causing said brush means to effect a second step in the same direction when de-energized,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,626,389 1/1953 Ellison 340-325 3,089,923 5/1963 Wright 200- 3,200,396 8/1965 Stevens et al. 340-324 3,248,724 4/1966 Deltuvia 340-325 3,350,705 10/1967 Bendicsen 340-324 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

ALAN J. KASPER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.